This month the Midnight Hour visits Soi Wall Street. We have been putting this off for too long - and one of the reasons is this Nitespot Area on it's own, is not developed enough, having too few venues to generate a 'critical mass'. Nevertheless, when considered as a part of a group of Night Entertainment Areas in the contiguous area, it is worthwhile mentioning for the historical record.

Although the Wall Street Inn is just that - a hotel - it wasn't always so. Previously it was one of the larger massage parlors on the soi. However, after renovations, they did retain a large area for use as a massage parlor. One can usually see masseuses waiting outside for customers, however if none are sitting curb-side, check with Reception.

Without seeing a map of the immediate area, one would not imagine that the Night Entertainment AreasPatpong 1 & Patpong II and Soi Katoey and Soi Wall Street are physically contiguous to one another. Our map, below, might surprise even a few long term expats.

Soi Wall Street has been around for many years, however it has never had more than 8 or 9Nitespots within, and almost all of them have been Massage Parlors. There has usually been one or two "Clubs" within, however none of them has lasted very long. Most of the Massage Parlors are oriented toward Japanese custom, however Western Expats are welcome.

The Arima Onsen is geared more for Nippon custom (as the name might imply), however all are welcome. They also have another branch on Soi Thaniya.

The larger Massage Parlors are open during the day as well, and are reasonably priced. Below are some additional photos of the Nitespots within Soi Wall Street. Worth a visit.

The Heart Beat Club is the only non-massage parlor Nitespot remaining on Soi Wall Street. And it has the habit of not opening on certain days.....

The King's Body House is, yes, a King's Group Nitespot (note their second King's Body House just opened on the 2nd floor on Patpong I just last month).

The Nicky Massage is a smaller massage parlor, found at the deep end of the soi. It is a 'man massage for man' establishment.

I was in the military in 1967 – 1968. I visited the Bar called “Jack’s American Star Bar”. I am returning to Thailand next month and I would like to visit the site of this bar. Many good times and good ladies there. Do you know the address so I can visit?

Cheers,

J.

J.

We are surprised at the number of queries we get on Jack's American Star Bar. It was located on 'New' Petchburi Road between Soi Thonglor (Sukhumvit Soi 55) and Soi Ekamai (Sukhumvit Soi 63). It is long gone, there is nothing left to visit; the area has been redeveloped - to include the new traffic interchange at Soi Ekamai, a new automobile service station, etc. (Jack's was near the service station to the best of our collective memory.)

The above describes the general location - but the extensive redevelopment has changed all the landmarks in that stretch of Petchburi Road - alas, only our memories of the good times remain..

The Glamour Girls (Glamour on Silom) has foundered yet again. They are a well-appointed bar with attractive hostesses, they must be doing something else entirely wrong..... Let's see if they come out for a couple more rounds - we'll get back atcha next issue.

- File photo

PATPONG II

The Strip is, as advertised, 'home of the private booth' - where a curtain is drawn around you and the A Go-Go dancer of your choice - for a small additional fee. A feature that has stood the test of time....

PATPONG II

Last month along this strip of bars (just under what used to be the Cleopatra A Go-Go), the Memphis Queen closed it's doors (see our last month's issue). This month, the now defunct Memphis Queen's next door neighbors, the Topless Pool Bar / Sport Bar and the Topless Beer Bar have closed. We took a look through the roller shutters, and see that the entire area on the ground floor is being redeveloped. Expect something big, and, yes, this is another King's Group development.

The other evening we passed through Soi Cowboy and noticed that more than half of the Nitespots had the majority of their neon switched off - could it be that they are shedding their Las Vegas image and 'going green'? .....Naahhh. They must be having power outages... or someone is looking more closely at their electricity bills....

The Playskool has finished their renovations and, we are pleased to say, have reopened. One of the things they did was nail up some brand new neon (and LED). All very impressive. Welcome them back to partytown.

NANA PLAZA

Where the action is. .....and you are not. Just about the time the bars are getting ready to open, the 2nd floor Beauty Shop is packed out. Another pic for the archives....

What was the Miraku Massage, then the Cosy Massage, then back to the Miraku Massage - all in the space of 3 months, has finally settled on the Analisa Massage. Well appointed venue, attractive staff. Welcome them to the neon jungle.

The Magic Massage, which closed it's doors more than a month ago, had their lights on when we passed by the other evening. However it was not open for business. A peek in the glass doors revealed that a brand new bar is nearing completion within. Will it keep the original Hookers moniker, or is there a new name in the offing? We'll keep our ear to the ground........

SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33

Black, the upstairs jazz music bar has cashed in their chips. They did a valiant job of attempting to lure customers, but were largely unsuccessful. Likely they would have had a much better chance on Soi Lang Suan or Soi Sarasin. Something about location, location, location. Ashes to ashes, so be it, then.

- File photo

SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33

Zentana Spa, just upstairs from the aforementioned Black, has also apparently thrown in the steamy towel. Greener pastures, ladies.

- File photo

SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33

The Green Parrot, open in January of 2004, has pulled up stakes in Subsoi 3 - and they in fact have moved on to greener pastures (not on Soi Dead Artists), we are pleased to hear. We'll try to get some pics next issue. May they keep on keeping on.

Platinum at long last has put up some signage. (Note; the 'font' is identical to that of Platinum Shopping Center in Pratu Nam.) At first very subtle, but having a rather spectacular effect. Let the good times roll.

What started out a few months ago as an unnamed bar beer area became the Allanda Bar, which became an unnamed beer bar area, which divided into two parts. The first part - 3 months ago - became the new location for the Bai Fern Massage. The second part became - just last month - Dark Blue, however we were uncertain this visit if Dark Blue was really open, or has it reverted to a tattoo parlor named Bing Stab Tattoo Family? We will give things a little time to settle down, and report back next issue.....

Bangkok Eyes jumps back in time to have a look at who was new - and who was through. We'll be willing to bet that many of you "Old Bangkok Hands" will be reminded of some bars you'd almost forgotten. (We also will be willing to bet you WON'T EVEN REMEMBER an even greater number....)

10 YEARS AGO :

October

Patpong I*Queen's Castle II up on the 2nd floor closed. It would reopen, and has since become Night Bar.

*Concert also on the 2nd floor closed. That area now being occupied by the Club 66.

Patpong 2* The Balls Joint Bar & Grill opened new next door to the then Cafe De Paris. Both venues now closed, and no longer Nitespots.

* The Ban Bua Luang Cafe closed. It was located on the 4th floor of the Cosmos stairwell opposite the Foodland. No Nitespot now occupies that spot.

Soi Cowboy* The upstairs Penny Black Pub & Restaurant opened new - next door to the Raw Hide. Both venues are still there today.

Nana Plaza* The EroticaA Go-Go opened new on the third floor, at the top of the front stairway. It is still there today.

Soi Katoey(Silom Soi 4)* The Velvet opened new in the old White Bar digs next to the Tapas Room. The Adam Spa now occupies those premises.

* The Speed and the upstairs Hip Hop closed down. The Bearbie Bar now occupies those digs.

Artist, Graphics Artist and Graffiti ArtistPharuephon (a.k.a. Mamafaka) Mukdasanit was pronounced dead on September 9th after remaining in a coma for 48 hours in a Phu Ket hospital. He was found by friends and lifeguards in the Phu Ket surf and rushed to the hospital. The cause of death was given as drowning.

Pharuephon 'Mamafaka' Mukdasanitwith one of his "Mr Hellyeah" incarnations.

- Excerpted media reproduced above is solely for the purpose of illustration of this review :
copyright 'fair use' allowances and restrictions apply.

A Khon Kaen vocational student, he went on to study Graphic Arts at Rangsit University. After that, he worked briefly for an ad agency - where he became bored. He and six cohorts decided to strike out on their own, forming B.O.R.E.D. - a collective - in 2002. It was there that he was first able to fully express his talents, as the group was regularly retained for numerous events, festivals, and showings.

Unbeknownst to us, we included one of Mamafaka's giant graffitis of his popular Mr. Hellyeah in our last month's edition.. To see the detailed photos CLICK HERE
.

It was also there at B.O.R.E.D. that he became a noticed contributor to Bangkok's "street art" scene. "Street art" is what we say when we mean "Graffiti", but not in a 'bad' way. As time went on, he continued to find increasing success in Bangkok's commercial world; his signature Mr Hellyeah image appearing on everything from skateboards to T-shirts, to you-name-it. His untimely death at age 34 has cut short a most promising career - his departure has left behind a huge number of friends and admirers. RIP.

- And now to Midnight Hour's own brand of BangkokGraffiti ....

Graffiti #666
Mongol Cloud
6 ft high x 13 ft

Graffiti #667
Who Me ?
6ft high x 6 ft

Graffiti #668
Bus Stop
8 ft high x 18 ft

Graffiti #669
Diet Pepsi
8 ft high x 19 ft

Graffiti #670
Home Direct
6 ft high x 16 ft

Graffiti #671
Rumple High
6ft high x 14 ft

Graffiti #672
Scout's Out
9 ft high x 8 ft

Graffiti,Graffiti , and more Graffiti -
Bangkok's original graffiti Site !

The MIDNITE HOURGraffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor"Boge" Hartman.

(Boge's photo, above, is not a graffitiper-se, although there are those who have insinuated.... -
Ed)